Organ



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. HUNTER.

ORGAN.

N0. 487 222. a Patented Nov. 29, 1892.,

(No Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. HUNTER.

' ORGAN.

No. 437,222. Patented Nov. 29,1892.

Witness 2;; IJL VZ'JYTOR, M Z

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

R. HUNTER. ORGAN.

No. 487,222. Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

WITNESSES JJVVENTOQ? v M WWW UNITED STATES ROBERT HUNTER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS PATENT Orrrcn.

TO THE FARRAND & VOTEY ORGAN COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ORGAN.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 487,222, dated November 29, 1892. Application filed January 11, 1892. Serial No. 417,764- (No model.) Patented in England June 8, 1885, No. 6,946.

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT HUNTER, organbuilder, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at No. 65 High Street, Olapham,

5 London, in the county of Surrey, England,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Wind-Organs, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 6,946, bearing date the 8th IO day of June, 1885;) and in What manner the same is to be performed is particularly described and ascertained in the following specification.

This invention relates to an improved means of coupling the notes in an organ; and itconsists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the object being to enable the player to sound two or more notes by depressing a single key, a

further object being to produce a uniform touch that is, to cause the resistance to depression to be uniform throughout all the keys. For this purpose I divide the swell air-chamber into as many air-tight compart- 2 5 ments or chambers as there are keys or notes on the organ, the partitions being formed by metal plates fitting in grooves or channels in the back and front of the chamber, and into each of these compartments I lead a number of air-tubes, each of which leads from the valve controlled by some one of the keys, the tubes leading into the compartment being those from the several keys which are to be coupled together. Over and behind the key- 5 board are placed two or more sound boards or chambers, within which are located the ends of the coupling-tubes and within which are also the valves or pallets that uncover these ends of the coupling-tubes. In connection with these sound-boards are also sliding valves adapted to close any one or all of the couplingtubes leading out from the sound-chamber.

The invention will be more fully understood by a reference to the drawings hereto attached,

in which Figure 1 shows in section the air-chambers and the coupling-tubes. Fig. 2 shows in sectional elevation the coupling-tubes and the manner of crossing them from the key of one note to the chamber in the swell-box to be coupled with the note indicated by the key struck. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the swell air-chamber. Fig. 4 is a perspective, some of the coupling-tubes, however, being removed, leaving only enough of them completely shown to indicate the main features of the invention without obscuring the features by a multiplicity of parts.

A represents a key, which operates the lever B and opens the pallet E against the closing force of the spring 6'. The pallet E is in the air-chamber or console G, and the opening of the pallet E permits the air to escape into the tubes 9 l0 11. Of these the tube 11 is in direct communication with the compartment L in the swell-chamber H, and the compartment L communicates through a tube Z with the reed which sounds the note indicated by the key A. The tube 10 leads to a compartment of H that is higher in tone than the note indicated by the key A, and the tube 11 leads to a compartment in the chamber H that sounds a note lower in tone. As indicated in the drawings,these tubes would couple three notes an octave apart; but of course they may be arranged to couple octaves or thirds or any other combination that the builder may desire.

The key A operating through the lever 13, opens the pallet D and permits the air to es- 8o cape from the console F through the tubes 1 2 3 into the swell-chamber H, acting similarly in all respects to the coupling of notes produced by the console G. Leading out of the console F are also coupling-tubes 7 8,communicating with a second swell-box H, from which a second set of reeds is operated through the tubes Z, so that by striking a single key A it is seen that the operator sounds the notes of five different reeds, and the number may be increased indefinitely. Under each tube is a slide K, which is movable and which in one position closes the opening from the console into the tube and in another position admits the air freely into the tube from the con- 5 sole. The slide terminates in a handle It, by which the player can operate it.

The method of dividing the swell air-chamber is an important feature of my invention and is shown in Fig. 3. The back and front IOO walls of the chamber are grooved, and into the grooves are fitted plates L L, of metal, and

these are secured in place by the channels. Glue or other adhesive material is thus dispensed with and a perfectly-smooth surface is presented for the valve J. At the end of each tube where it enters its proper compartment in the chamber H is a flat valve J J, which serves as a stop to prevent the air from returning to the sound-board or console, and thereby interfering with the other tubes or putting other notes into play at times when they are not Wanted.

It will be seen that any number of notes within reasonable limits may be sounded by the depression of one key,the actual number of notes that may be sounded thus being limited by the number of tubes that lead out from above the pallet connected with any particular key and the number of tubes used at any time being governed by the position of the slide K.

The console F above the pallet is divided into compartments similar to those in the swell-box.

What I claim is- 1. In an organ,the combination of a key, a

leading into a single compartment of said 0 swell-chamber and operated by different keys, substantially as and for the purpose described.

ROBERT HUNTER.

In presence of- H. H. NEWMAN, Consulate-General U. S. A.., London.

HENRY P. RALLING, 33 Chancery Lane, London, Clerk to Beaumont, Son 4% Rz'gclen, Solicitors. 

